Connections of New Zealand bred mare Jouer Le Jeu owe a debt of thanks to top Kiwi trainer Murray Baker following the mare's breakthrough victory at Doomben.Owners Glenn and Lisa Morton had just about given up hope with the daughter of Montjeu after the four-year-old struggled to win for previous Gold Coast trainers John Wallace and Maryann Thexton.Glenn Morton, the son of Billie Morton who owns and bred Australian Derby winner Nom Du Jeu, spoke with Baker who convinced him not to give up too ea
Connections of New Zealand bred mare Jouer Le Jeu owe a debt of thanks to top Kiwi trainer Murray Baker following the mare's breakthrough victory at Doomben.
Owners Glenn and Lisa Morton had just about given up hope with the daughter of Montjeu after the four-year-old struggled to win for previous Gold Coast trainers John Wallace and Maryann Thexton.
Glenn Morton, the son of Billie Morton who owns and bred Australian Derby winner Nom Du Jeu, spoke with Baker who convinced him not to give up too early on the Montjeu breed.
"We bought her for $NZ65,000 in New Zealand but she was very small so we just gave her time to mature," Glenn Morton said.
"John Wallace had her originally but when he lost his licence a couple of years ago we sent her to Maryanne Thexton then she went back to John again.
"She only had seven starts before we sent her to Brian Smith to train and he's found the key with her."
Joeur Le Jeu's will be a boost to her broodmare value as her mother Olga's Pal was a Group One winner of the 1988 New Zealand One Thousand Guineas.
Smith has a big opinion of Joeur Le Jeu who had her first start for the former New Zealand trainer when runner-up at Eagle Farm on November 26.
"When she ran at Eagle Farm on Melbourne Cup day for John (Wallace) she led but Brian has had her ridden back in the field for the two runs he's had with her," Morton said.
Smith believes Jouer Le Jeu will easily make it through the restricted grades in Brisbane and is hopeful she'll measure up to next year's Brisbane winter carnival.
"She'll go through the grades and be very competitive up to 2400 metres," Smith said.
"Montjeus take time and she should measure up to some of the staying races next winter like the Ipswich and Caloundra Cups.'
Meanwhile trainer Steele Ryan gained some compensation for the loss of top mare Chinchilla Rose when Steady Poplar won the Australian Aerospace Handicap (1200m).
Chinchilla Rose and five other gallopers have been transferred to Sydney trainer Chris Waller after Ryan had a fall-out with owner Ken Turner.
"I've lost Chinchilla Rose and another five or so after she got injured on Cox Plate day," Ryan said.
"She was hurt on the float and had to receive about a dozen stitches which cost her a chance of running in the Schweppes Stakes.
"As well as Chinchilla Rose, I lost her three-quarter sister by Exceed and Excel which the owner said he knocked back $2 million."
Ryan is hopeful Steady Poplar, who was having his first start since a wind operation, can measure up over a longer trip next year.